A braveheart comes alive on big screen
Sony Pictures makes foray into Tollywood with a movie based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's life.
Leading production and distribution studio Sony Pictures International Productions, in association with Telugu super star Mahesh Babu’s production house G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment (GMB), is set to produce a bi-lingual film based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the brave NSG commando who saved several hostages during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The Hindi and Telugu bi-lingual movie, titled Major, will feature young Telugu actor Adivi Sesh in the lead role. The shooting of the movie will start in the summer this year and it will hit theatres in 2020. Major is the next project of Sony Pictures after Prithviraj starrer 9.
Major will be directed by Shashikiran Tikka, director of the Telugu movie Goodachari. The film is co-produced by Adivi Entertainment and Sharath Chandra and Anurag Reddy’s A+S Movies.
Laine Kline, EVP and Head, Sony Pictures International Productions, said, “From Pad Man to 102 Not Out and our latest Malayalam production 9, we want to bring those stories that touch audiences’ hearts and yet entertain them. Major is a powerful story that will not just inspire Indians, but will transcend boundaries. We couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring story for our debut in the Telugu film industry.”Vivek Krishnani, MD, Sony Pictures Entertainment in India, said, “We are excited to partner with Mahesh and Namrata, who are such creative forces and are equally thrilled to welcome them to the Hindi film industry. Sesh and Shashi make their debut in Hindi cinema and we absolutely love the passion with which they have envisioned Major.”
Namrata Shirodkar Ghattamaneni, MD, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment said, “Mahesh and I have envisioned GMB to bring stories that resonate globally. We are excited to be able to tell such a unique and original story about a national hero’s life. The honesty of Sesh and Sashi’s vision for Major’s story echoed with us and in Sony Pictures, we found the right partners to bring the incredible story on the big screen, not only for a pan-Indian audience, but an international one.”